So Lynn Mayabb, senior managing advisor with BKD Wealth Advisors, in Kansas City, Mo., doesn't even count Social Security when helping to plan retirement for her clients who were born in or after 1970. And to cover the 25% to 35% of retirement income that Social Security provides for retirees today, she says, we'll need to increase our savings by 10% to 12%.

Those increased savings will, of course, increase her fees. Why doesn't she encourage her clients to lobby their senator and house rep to promote and protect their SS benefits.

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To anybody that's been watching, we have seen this coming for decades.

For those that just want to do the tax solution ... I would ask, What underfunded programs do you want to tax for ? Shall we just fund SS and stiff Medicare, states, huge deficits? Somewhere along the way those high taxes will bring the economy to a standstill and be counter-productive.

If you think about it, you just might conclude that we can't fund everything and that cuts are inevitable. This is a hard problem and there are no snap your fingers solutions.

Those increased savings will, of course, increase her fees. Why doesn't she encourage her clients to lobby their senator and house rep to promote and protect their SS benefits.

of course, nothing is guaranteed. i would rather save an extra 10-12% than be at the mercy of congress and the impeccable efficiency of the gummit. congress people get letters, nothing happens, meanwhile i save extra and continue with my plan. SS is a huge uncertainty for me, and very difficult for me to have an impact. that's why it's better to save extra and count SS as lagniappe, if lagniappe will be allowed when i take the dive.

Why doesn't she encourage her clients to lobby their senator and house rep to promote and protect their SS benefits.

Because that hasn't worked in 40+ years??

__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)

Why doesn't she encourage her clients to lobby their senator and house rep to promote and protect their SS benefits.

Because she's a financial advisor and not a political advisor?

Because a client who was born before 1970 is still likely working, and if congress did as you suggest she'd just have to subtract the increased SS taxes the client would pay thus leaving an even bigger gap?

Why doesn't she encourage her clients to lobby their senator and house rep to promote and protect their SS benefits.

Because one approach (personal savings) has a fairly certain outcome. Writing your govt reps is very uncertain (I know, I've done it many times!).

If I turn around what you wrote, you are saying we should give up on personal responsibility and increase our reliance on the govt to "take care of us". IMO, that is part of what has us in the mess we are in. I am doing what I can to plan for my own future, and I encourage others to do the same. Especially young people.

Seriously - what is your advice to a twenty something starting out in their career? Would you tell them:

Because one approach (personal savings) has a fairly certain outcome. Writing your govt reps is very uncertain (I know, I've done it many times!).

If I turn around what you wrote, you are saying we should give up on personal responsibility and increase our reliance on the govt to "take care of us". IMO, that is part of what has us in the mess we are in. I am doing what I can to plan for my own future, and I encourage others to do the same. Especially young people.

Seriously - what is your advice to a twenty something starting out in their career? Would you tell them:

It's not a rhetoric question - it is the logical output of what you posted.

-ERD50

I agree with the need for personal responsibility and frugality of a core ER strategy. I'm just pointing out the dogma that keeps being repeated that seeks to eliminate SS from retirement planning.

For people with the finances to save enough for retirement on their own this is ok. I assume that BKD Wealth Advisors' client base doesn't include many people earning minimum wage who rely on the solvency and availability of SS. Also with the obvious lack of retirement saving in the US and the decimation (almost literally) of 401ks, it seems sensible to promote a guaranteed social insurance program.

So what's your beef with the article? You can write your reps, but since you can't count on the outcome, you must also increase your personal savings. It doesn't do to increase savings by only half as much if we think there is a 50% probability of getting SS or not. We gotta do what we gotta do.

Seems like good advice to me. You seem to equate increasing savings as "giving up" on SS. I think it just taking reasonable precautions.

Quote:

Also with the obvious lack of retirement saving in the US and the decimation (almost literally) of 401ks, it seems sensible to promote a guaranteed social insurance program.

So we differ here. I think the sensible thing to do is to educate people on personal responsibility, and encourage rather than discourage it. I have had this talk with my children who are on their own.

I don't get my house or car or umbrella insurance from the govt. And I self-insure for many things. Why do I want "retirement insurance" from the govt?

1970 huh? Well I guess I'm a fossil since I was born in 1957. Even though I am a fossil, I use only 50% of our 'promised' SS in my projections.

In that case I must be a fossilized fossil.

By coincidence, DD brought up the subject while we were visiting this past weekend. She said that she wasn't counting future SS in her financial planning, and I told her that was a good plan. She and her husband are both approaching 30.

When you are 20 - 30 years out, I can see no harm in planning to not have it, even though I believe it will still be there in one form or another.

__________________Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016Now it's adventure before dementia

To anybody that's been watching, we have seen this coming for decades.

For those that just want to do the tax solution ... I would ask, What underfunded programs do you want to tax for ? Shall we just fund SS and stiff Medicare, states, huge deficits? Somewhere along the way those high taxes will bring the economy to a standstill and be counter-productive.

If you think about it, you just might conclude that we can't fund everything and that cuts are inevitable. This is a hard problem and there are no snap your fingers solutions.

Social Security isn't underfunded. It's been running up a surplus for decades.
Why are we spending double what others spend on healthcare?
Why are we spending trillions to keep the oil companies in business?
Why are we spending trillions on submarines and aircraft carriers when our enemy's can weaponize a laser printer?
And what's the likelyhood that we'll be voting in another tax cut tomorrow?

I think there is a fair chance that something like a hybrid between the Ryan proposal and increasing means testing will get finally passed. Hard to call until after 2012.

Even the UK is considering doing away with means testing for their equivalent to SS. They reckon that if they do away with means testing that they can actually raise the amount that everyone gets since means testing costs so much.

I think the basic UK state pension is treated as just another income stream so will be taxed at the recipient's tax level.

Even the UK is considering doing away with means testing for their equivalent to SS. They reckon that if they do away with means testing that they can actually raise the amount that everyone gets since means testing costs so much.

I think the basic UK state pension is treated as just another income stream so will be taxed at the recipient's tax level.

Even the UK is considering doing away with means testing for their equivalent to SS. They reckon that if they do away with means testing that they can actually raise the amount that everyone gets since means testing costs so much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

I think the basic UK state pension is treated as just another income stream so will be taxed at the recipient's tax level.

Seems like a good idea. However, the UK does not seem to be currently engaged in class war, which we are. I expect that before long any American who is solvent may have "R" tattooed on his/her forehead.

Ha

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